5 replies to this topic

[aidogs]

BBC


Pedigree dogs are suffering from genetic diseases following years of inbreeding, an investigation has found.

A BBC documentary says they are suffering acute problems because looks are emphasised over health when breeding dogs for shows.

The programme shows spaniels with brains too big for their skulls and boxers suffering from epilepsy.

The Kennel Club says it works tirelessly to improve the health of pedigree dogs.

Pedigree animals make up 75% of the seven million dogs in the UK and cost their owners over £10m in vets' fees each week.

Poor health

The programme, Pedigree Dogs Exposed, says dogs suffering from genetic illness are not prevented from competing in dog shows and have gone on to win "best in breed", despite their poor health.

It says physical traits required by the Kennel Club's breed standards, such as short faces, wrinkling, screw-tails and dwarfism, have inherent health problems.

Other problems occur because of exaggerations bred into dogs by breeders trying to win rosettes, it adds.

The programme shows a prize-winning cavalier King Charles spaniel suffering from syringomyelia, a condition which occurs when a dog's skull is too small for its brain.

People are carrying out breeding which would be first of all entirely illegal in humans and secondly is absolutely insane from the point of view of the health of the animals
Professor Steve Jones
University College London

It also features boxers suffering from epilepsy, pugs with breathing problems and bulldogs who are unable to mate or give birth unassisted.

It says deliberate mating of dogs which are close relatives is common practice and the Kennel Club registers dogs bred from mother-to-son and brother-to-sister matings.

Scientists at Imperial College, London, recently found that pugs in the UK are so inbred that although there are 10,000 of them, it is the equivalent of just 50 distinct individuals.

Steve Jones, professor of genetics at University College London, said: "People are carrying out breeding which would be first of all entirely illegal in humans and secondly is absolutely insane from the point of view of the health of the animals.

"In some breeds they are paying a terrible price in genetic disease."

Breeding practices

RSPCA chief vet Mark Evans was interviewed for the programme.

He said: "The welfare and quality of life of many pedigree dogs is seriously compromised by established breeding practices for appearance, driven primarily by the rules and requirements of competitive dog showing and pedigree dog registration."

The Kennel Club's Bill Lambert and RSPCA chief vet Mark Evans

But Kennel Club spokeswoman Caroline Kisko said it is "working tirelessly" to help improve the health of pedigree dogs.

"Any dog may be shown but it is up to the judge to decide if it fits the breed standard," she said.

"It is when characteristics become exaggerated that health problems can occur.

"This is something that the Kennel Club does not encourage and actively educates people, including judges, against doing as part of its Fit For Function, Fit For Life campaign."

Pedigree Dogs Exposed will be shown on BBC One at 2100 BST on Tuesday 19 August

[Allison]

Kim La Flamme said:

Bruce thanks for posting this …. Right up my alley; couldn’t help adding my 2 cents and getting up on my favorite soap box subject ~



There has (finally) been a few of these articles and documentaries on the National Geographic, History & Animal Planet channels lately, showing what is being done to our domestic animals. This is what Dr. Bragg’s article , "The Dog Game " that I have up on my web site and on the forum talks about also … finally a few brave individuals speaking out. Wish I could get the BBC channel.



These unreasonable breeding practices all started in Europe with the “pure blue blood” inbreeding for looks and to please the “blue blood” Kings & Queens setting around in their castles with nothing to do but have a dog setting on there lap. That’s when the dog shows started … Just a warped judges view of beautiful conformation, in the late 1800’s and spread to other countries around the world, including the US.



AKC is even worse than the UK registry and they are NOT doing anything about it. This is why we maintained our own registry and went with the IPDBA a few years back. The IPDBA encourage breeds to make there own ethical rules and to breed responsibly. This article and education is very important to get out there to the unsuspecting public …. The more people educate themselves about this, the sooner something may be done about it.



This is why I would not allow our breed to go with these marketing, promotional registries. When I was invited back to the first dog show of a new Rare Breed registry starting up in Washington DC. The board of directors told me that if I turned over my studbook to them, they would make sure my breed was marketed and made popular and it would make me LOTS of money. I literally told them what they could do with there marketing and used car salesmen mentality , and that my breed was not for sale for professional marketers to ruin.



Mike Bloodgood ( a very respected geneticist and saving a breed himself) CEO of the IPDBA registry said, “Any one that wants to save a breed, would never think of taking it to a Rare Breed Registry who then take them to the AKC.”



I would add, “Unless they were just interested in it for the money … like some people I know.” ………….



He made that statement in response to Linda Mulloly and Molly Attel , who tried to convince Mr. Bloodgood to drop our dogs from the IPDBA registry. And that is why these two went to such lengths, creating fake names, fake experts, FAKE FAMILY MEMBERS, and sock puppets to ruin me, and force me to sell my copyrights. This is why they launched this libelous campaign to make me look like a hoax, because I would not allow my breed to go with AKC and lose all breeding control over these National treasures, America's first dog, a breed that deserves to be saved, not “sold out”.



These people had agreed to follow our breed club rules and our code of ethics which states clearly, that owners and breeders of the AIDogs would not attempt to go with any large registry that would cause us to lose control of making our own code of ethics or control of the breeding of our own breed. By refusing to follow these rules they were removed from the AIDog breed club and breeding program.

These people do not understand the horrific, damaging differences between the European blue blood mentality and the more natural American Indian Cultures, with their completely different views on proper ethical selective breeding.



Is it obvious or what, that these two lady’s, don’t like me <grin >.



Every breed club through history that has tried to start, re-create or save a breed of dog (including all other domestic animals) that have registered them with UKC, AKC, CKC etc … has ended up ruined in a matter of about 4 or 5 years (or 4 or 5 generations). All my life, since my grandfather explained this too me, I've watched it happen.



This is not just my ( and a few others) opinion any more, this is a proven fact. Big Brother AKC type registries are ruining all of our domestic animals. Once it’s past a certain point, it is irreversible genetic damage that can not be fixed, for over 400 registered breeds around the world. There is so much the general public does not know. Most of these breeders of these AKC breeds have to put down at least half of the puppies now born, if they survive birth at all … they are so deformed & obviously sick, they can not sell them. Out of these that do survive birth , no one wants to record or tell you how many “AKC pure bred dogs die of genetically inherited, breed specific diseases” before they reach even 5 years old. I could go on, but it’s sickening, so I will now get off of my soap box … for awhile ~



Kim La Flamme ~ founder/trustee of the AIDog breed for over 45 years -- www.indiandogs.com

[liz]

We were at camp with Shunka when the BBC programme was shown, the camp was for people who owned motorhomes, our group was there as entertainment, camping in the 1840s and before period.

A lot of people came to see Shunka especially, and most told me of the programme. I assured them that Shunka had not been ill through his breeding, a more likely probablility could be modern dog food. I told them all that our dogs are not bred in this way, and that every care is taken to make sure they don't get inbred and that Kim is most concerned that no defects will be passed on genetically.

I told them of Kim's concerns and care in relation to this matter, and most people were most impressed.

At another camp a women came up to us and introduced herself as the local president of the Kennel Club, "This is a beautiful dog" she said "We could do wonders with this if it was recognised by the Kennel Club and got into our hands"

We told he "No chance" and that we wouldn't reccommend any breeder to let her have a dog.

When she asked why not, we told her the kennel Club had already ruined too many good dogs, and if Shunka was so beautiful as he was, why would he have to be changed to suit them?

She had no reply to that, and she left a little bit puzzled at our attitude too.

More needs to br told to the genral public about these problems, and programmes like this will do it. But while people only want to make money or give themselves prestige by owning a champion dog or an offspring of one, and not own or breed a dog for the dogs best purpose it will go on.

Difficult to explain what I mean, but carry on what you are trying to do Kim, you are being proven right!

Edited by liz, 02 September 2008 - 05:39 AM.

[Karen]

For people who can't afford an AID pup, especially if they live overseas, this is a strong argument for getting a mixed-breed rescue. Many years ago I read the recommendation to get a dog that looked as much like a 'natural' dog as possible, that has as few deviations from a wild dog as possible; medium build, medium coat, upright ears...you get the idea! There was an illustration of the ideal dog, and guess what it looked like?

You'll still get genetic problems with this approach, but hopefully they will be watered down. And things like upright ears prevent ear mites, for example. All of the deviations from normal dog anatomy can cause health problems.

Karen

[Michelle]

I saw an example of the horrors of purebred problems on a show about the "world's ugliest dogs". Many of these dogs are Chinese Crested, purebred or half and half. They are bred to be mostly hairless, but this causes them to have bad teeth that fall out easily, allowing their tongues to just hang out of their mouths (which makes them frequent winners of the "ugliest" contest). Another dog in the show, a purebred Italian greyhound, was deformed, and suffered from seizures. And despite the fact that these dogs had loving owners, it was so sad to see what poor breeding can cause.

[liz]

and I suppose some people will develop 'ugly' dogs just to win competitions like this! Once some people can gain 'prestige' through this kind of thing its starts being perpetrated.

That's why there are people doing stupid things to get in the Guiness book of records!